Tools for mapping business objects (DTO objects) from entities in asp.net mvc?

Question

is there any tool or utility(mapper assembly) to construct business objects from entities(which are obtained from DB using linq -> sql , entity framework or whatever..)

in the absence of one , can anyone suggest the best way that can be accomplished rather can copy pasting the properties(what i'm doing right now) from the entity classes.?

vijay

Answer 1

You map to business objects by projecting. This works even if your POCO business objects have a different shape than your entities.

var q = from dataObject in Context.DataObjects
        select new BusinessObject
        {
            Name = dataObject.Name,
            RelatedObjectName = dataObject.RelatedObject.Name, // works even if RelatedObject is null
            DirectChildren = from c in dataObject.Children
                             select new ChildBusinessObject
                             {
                                 Name = c.Name
                                 // etc.
                             }
            GrandChildren = from c in dataObject.Children
                            from gc in c.Children
                            select new ChildBusinessObject
                            {
                                Name = c.Name
                                // etc.
                            },
            // etc.
        };